Belt with compartments



57 M. PARKHURST BELT WITH. COMPARTMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 8, 1956 Merle Parkhursf INVENTOR.

9 BY mm and Atlarneys Dec. 24, 1957 PARKHURST 2,817,472

BELT WITHCOMPARTMENTS Filed Feb. 8, 1956 2 Sheets-sheaf 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 2

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Merle 0. Parkhursf INVENTOR.

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United States Patent BELT WITH COMPARTMENTS Merle D. Parkhurst, Eufanla, Okla. Application February 8, 1956, Serial No. 564,275

4 Claims. (Cl. 224-) This invention generally relates to a belt device and more specifically provides an improved and novel type of belt specifically adapted for use by fishermen or the like wherein the belt is provided with a plurality of compartments for supporting a Variety of articles normally employed while fishing and also provides a plurality of supporting grommets for supporting other paraphernalia used while fishing.

An object of the present invention is to provide a belt construction having separable end elements for retaining the device in encircling relation to the waist of a wearer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a belt having a series of upwardly opening pockets on the outer surface thereof for receiving a plurality of containers for various articles employed while fishing such as fish-hooks, lures and other similar and relatively small articles.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a compartmented belt having a plurality of grommets adjacent the lower edge thereof for supporting various fishing implements such as scaling devices, knives, fish nets or the like.

Yet another important feature of the present invention is to provide a compartmented belt having a longitudinal upper and lower tubular sleeve for receiving and supporting a fishing rod.

More particularly, a pertinent object of the present invention is to provide a compartmented belt in accordance with the preceding objects in which is incorporated a pair of inflatable elements together with a pressurized container which may be employed for selectively inflating the inflatable elements whereby the compartmented belt will act as a life preserver in the event of the person fishing being pulled overboard or accidentally step off into relatively deep water.

Other objects of the present invention will reside in its simplicity of construction, ease of attachment, adaptation for carrying various articles and its relatively inexpensive manufacturing cost as well as its safety features.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a plan view of the belt construction of the present invention with the belt being disassembled in relation to the wearer;

Figure 2 is a front view of the belt with the belt attached to the person wearing the same;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the arrangement of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section 4-4 of Figure 1 illustrating the relationship of the vertically opening pockets as well as the strap for securing the inflating container in position;

2,817,472 Patented Dec. 24, 1957 "ice Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 55 of Figure 1 illustrating further structural details and arrangements of the present invention and illustrating the supporting means for the pressure container;

Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view with portions thereof broken away illustrating the tubes interconnecting the pressure container and the inflatable elements in each end of the belt;

Figure 7 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 7-7 of Figure 1 illustrating the arrangement of the article containers in the vertically opening pockets together with the expandable construction of the body encircling flexible member whereby the inflatable members may be inflated; and,

Figure 8 is a perspective view illustrating a container which may be inserted into the pockets for supporting various articles such as fish lures or hooks.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the belt construction of the present invention for encircling the waist of a wearer 12 wherein the belt 10 is primarily adapted for use by fishermen although it may be adapted for use by other sports men that normally travel on or adjacent to water such as duck hunters, oystermen, crab men or the like.

The belt 10 includes a pair of elongated flexible members 14 and 16 which are interconnected by a central flexible member 18. The flexible members 14 and 16 are relatively wide and include a rear portion 16 attached to the front portions by a U-bend 18. The lower edge of the back portion 16 is attached to the front portions of the flexible members 14 and 16 by a longitudinal row of stitching 20 and also a longitudinal row of stitching 22 and a series of grommets 24 are disposed in the area between the rows of stitching 22 and 20. Also, vertical rows of stitching 26 are provided as each end of the rear section 16 to attach the rear section 16 to the front portion of the flexible members 14 and 16.

A longitudinal row of stitching 28 is provided in spaced relation to the U-shaped bend 18 thereby forming a longitudinally elongated sleeve or pocket 30 at the upper edge thereof. Also, a longitudinal row of stitching 32 is provided in spaced relation to the longitudinal row of stitching 20 adjacent the lower end of the flexible members 14 and 16 thereby providing a longitudinal sleeve or pocket 34 adjacent the lower edge of the belt 10 for receiving a fishing rod 36 or the like. Also, a fishing rod having a reel 38 thereon may be supported in the upper longitudinal sleeve 30 if desired, substantially as il1ustrated in Figure 1. Loop members 40 may be provided in the grommets 24 for supporting various articles such as a knife sheath 42 having a knife 44 thereon, a fish net 46 and other articles normally employed by a fisherman which are relatively bulky. A wire clip 48 may be employed for securing the various articles to the ring members 40 whereby the articles may swing free thereby permitting the fisherman 12 to assume his normal duties without interference from these various articles.

Secured to the outer surface of each of the flexible members 14 and 16 is an elongated flexible member 50 attached to the front surface of the flexible :members 14 and 16 by longitudinally spaced vertical rows: of stitching 42 as well as a longitudinal row of stitching 54 at the lower end thereof thereby forming upwardly opening pockets 56 for receiving containers such as the cylindrical container 58 having a removable cap 60 for supporting and retaining various small articles employed by a fisherman such as various types of fishing lures, hooks, lead weights, leaders or the like.

Accordingly, it will be seen that the compartmented belt construction 10 of the present invention provides adequate storage space for all of the articles normally employed by a fisherman wherein such articles are retained in an out-of-the-way but readily accessible position.

For securing the belt 10 in encircling relation to the wearer 12, the flexible member 14' is provided with a Wire loop fastener 62 having a central latch portion 64 while the other flexible member 16' is provided with a wire loop fastener 66 having a projecting hook 68 thereon for engagement with the latch portion 64 of the loop 62. thereby securing the belt 10in encircling relation to the wearer 12.

On the front face of the central flexible member 17 is provided a pocket 70 formed by a strap member 72 having the' opposite side edges secured to the flexible member 17 by detachable fasteners 74. The snap fasteners 74 secure the flap 72 to the flexible member 17 thereby holding an air cylinder 76' to the belt 1h. The air cylind'er 76 is provided with an adapter fitting 78 having an actuating valve 80' inthe top thereof for controlling flow of compressed air into oppositely extending tubes 82. i

which are communicated with inflatable elements or members 84 and 86 disposed between the rear portion 16 and the front portion of each of the flexible elements 14 and 16 for selectively inflating the end portions of the compartmented belt 10 substantially as illustrated in Figure 7 whereby the device will act as an eflicient and effective life preserver in the event a fisherman accidentally falls or is pulled overboard or accidentally Walks into water which is too deep.

The compartmented belt may be constructed of any suitable material but of preferably waterproof canvas, plastic or thin rubber for giving it relatively long wear and durability. It is relatively small and compact being substantially 6 inches in width and is not uncomfortable to wear and may be easily stored in a relatively small area thereby forming an easily carried and worn life saver which has utility for carrying the various articles normally employed by sportsmen and also may be employed to carry cigarettes, matches or the like since the containers 58 may be made in any size for fitting the various pockets 56 which may be various sizes for carrying vari- OUs types of articles.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since nu merous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted'to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1'. A compartment belt comprising an elongated flexible member adapted to encircle the waist, separable fastening means at each end of the member for retaining the member in position, a plurality of vertically disposed compartments on the outer surface of said flexible member, said flexible member being of double thickness at the end portions, and an inflatable member between the thicknesses of the flexible member, and means disposed centrally on said flexible member for inflating said inflatable members.

2. A compartment belt comprising an elongated flexible member adapted to encircle the waist, separable fastening means at each end of the member for retaining the member in position, a plurality of vertically disposed compartments on the outer surface of said flexible member, said flexible member being of double thickness at the end portions, and an inflatable member between the thicknesses of the flexible member, and means disposed centrally on said flexible member for inflating said inflatable members, said inflating means including a flexible tube connected to each inflatable member, and a container of pressurized fluid connected to said tubes, and a detachable strap securing said container in position.

3. An article carrying belt comprising an elongated flexible member for encircling the waist of a wearer, separable fastening means at each end of the member for retaining the member in waist encircling position, an elongated strip of flexible material attached to the outer surface of the flexible member by longitudinally spaced vertical rows of stitching with the bottom edge of the strip continuously connected thereto, thereby forming a plurality of vertically opening pockets, a plurality of' grommets disposed in spaced relation along the bottom edge of said flexible member for suspending articles therefrom, a longitudinally extending open ended pocket along the top edge of the flexible member for receiving an elongated article when the flexible member is not in waist encircling condition.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said flexible member includes a double thickness area, an inflatable member disposed within said double thickness area, and means for inflating said inflatable member for converting the belt into a life preserver, the inner thickness of the flexible member being normally gathered for permitting inflation of the inflatable member and forming a cushion for engaging the waist of a wearer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,198,202 Drinkard Sept. 12, 1916 1,236,310 Johnson Aug. 7, 1917 1,486,470 Welch Mar. 11, 1924 2,475,914 Peterson July 12, 1949 2,716,245 Desjarlais et al Aug. 30, 1955 

